INTRO THANKS TO A PAIR OF YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS HERE IN PORTLAND THERE'S A LOT OF POTENTIAL WASTE BY-PASSING THE LAND FILLS AND ENDING UP "IN YOUR BACK POCKET" ..... THEY'RE THE FOUNDERS OF A TWO YEAR OLD COMPANY CALLED "FLOW FOLD".... 'WALLETS,, AND OTHER ITEMS, "MADE IN MAINE" OUT OF MATERIALS USED IN MAKING SAILS FOR HIGH TECH RACING SAILBOATS .... -------nats of sewing----- FROM FIRST STITCH --- TO FINAL STAMP --- EACH OF THESE FLOWFOLD WALLETS IS METICULOUSLY MADE BY HAND ... STILL,,, IT'S THEIR LIGHT WEIGHT AND LASTING DURABILITY THAT THESE GUYS TOUT .... "stronger than steel yet so light that they float." LONGTIME FRIENDS DEVIN MCNEILL AND CHARLIE FRIEDMAN FOUNDED FLOWFOLD RIGHT OUT OF COLLEGE IN 2011 .... IT'S AN IDEA, THOUGH, ACTUALLY BORN HALF A DECADE EARLIER - WHEN FRIEDMAN TOOK A SUMMER JOB SEWING CUSTOM RACING SAILS... "i saw some of the newer composite fabrics that they're using for higher end racing sailboats and thoug ht that they would be really perfect for wallets." RUGGED WALLETS,, COMPLETELY WEATHER RESISTANT AND EACH WEIGHING BARELY ONE OUNCE..... "we like to think our wallet offers some of the highest performance features available on the market." -----nats of sewing--- BUT HERE IN THIS SHOP,,, IT'S PERFORMANCE WITH A PURPOSE... THIS COMPOSITE SAIL FABRIC, IF NOT SOLD OFF AS SCRAP TO FLOWFOLD,, MAY'VE ENDED UP AS TRASH IN A LANDFILL..... "these are some examples of the fabrics that we take in from the mill." ROLLS OF FABRIC,, ALL SOMEHOW BLEMISHED OR OUT OF STYLE,, AND WHILE REJECTED FOR USE AS AN ELITE HIGH END RACING SAIL -- AT FLOWFOLD,,, IT'S RE- CUT TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY, HIGH QUALITY WALLET... "the unfortunate truth is a lot would be thrown out and we are trying to promote the idea of reuse and repurpose of material." "really easy to carry in your back pocket but also cool looking." KELLY FERNALD WAS SOLD FROM THE VERY BEGINNING..... THE OWNER OF NOMADS ADVENTURE IN PORTLAND -- JUST ONE OF NEARLY TWO DOZEN STORES ACROSS MAINE THAT NOW CARRIES THE FLOWFOLD LINE... "a lot of my customers are people that are traveling and looking to go as light as possible,, the wallets are extremly lightweight but extremely durable.. --nats-- INSIDE THIS SMALL SHOP IN SCARBOROUGH THIS THREE MAN CREW PUMPS OUT SEVERAL HUNDRED WALLETS A WEEK , NOT TO MENTION A FEW TOAT BAGS AND OTHER ACCESSORIES,,,,, USELESS OLD SAIL CLOTH -- A PERFECT FIT FOR THE BACK POCKET... "we're taking material that's destined to be thrown away and using it in our products." WHILE MANY OF THE WALLETS ARE MADE RIGHT THERE IN SCARBOROUGH,,,, BUSINESS IS GETTING SO GOOD THAT FLOWFOLD HAS HAD TO FARM OUT MUCH OF ITS WORK TO A SEAMSTRESS GROUP IN LEWISTON..... BOTTOM LINE THOUGH,,, IT'S ALL STILL HAND MADE IN

An Iranian military observation aircraft flew within 50 yards of an armed U.S. Navy helicopter over the Persian Gulf this month, sparking concern that top Iranian commanders might not be in full control of local forces, CNN has learned.